Expandable interbody implant

ABSTRACT

An expandable interbody implant is expandable from a contracted configuration to an expanded configuration by moving opposing first and second vertebral-engaging surfaces apart from one another. The implant includes a locking system for restraining contraction of the implant. The locking system may have a locked configuration, in which the first and second surfaces are prevented from moving back towards the contracted configuration, and the locking system may have an unlocked configuration, in which the first and second surfaces are permitted to move back towards the contracted configuration. The locking system may be controlled by rotation of one or more pinions. The pinions may, in turn, be controlled by linear movement of a rack. The rack may be configured so as to bias the locking system towards the locked configuration. The implant may also include a stop for constraining the maximum expansion of the implant.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/319,513 filed Apr. 7, 2016, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Intervertebral implants are commonly used in spinal surgery, such as ininterbody fusion procedures, in which an implant (e.g., a spacer orcage) is placed in the disc space between two vertebrae to be fusedtogether. At least a portion of the disc is typically removed before theimplant is positioned in the intervertebral space, and the implant maybe supplemented with bone graft material to promote fusion of thevertebrae. Interbody fusion procedures may also be performed inconjunction with other types of fixation, such as pedicle screwfixation, to provide additional stability, particularly while thevertebrae fuse together.

Different interbody fusion procedures can be distinguished by theirlocation along the spine (e.g., in the cervical, thoracic, or lumbarregions); by the type of implant used; and by the surgical approach tothe intervertebral space, in which different surgical approaches oftenimply different structural characteristics of the implant or implantsused. Different surgical approaches to the spine include anterior,posterior, and lateral. Examples of interbody fusion techniquesperformed along a posterior approach include posterior lumbar interbodyfusion (PLIF) and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). PLIFtechniques typically include positioning two intervertebral implantsinto the intervertebral space along a posterior to anterior direction,with one implant being positioned towards the left side of the spine andone implant being positioned towards the right side of the spine. Theimplants used in such PLIF techniques typically have a straight shape,in that they extend along a central axis. TLIF techniques, by contrast,typically include positioning one intervertebral implant into theintervertebral space (often towards the anterior portion of theintervertebral space) from the posterior of the patient, but the spineis approached on one side from a more lateral position than in PLIFtechniques. The implants used in such TLIF techniques are often curved,such that they have an overall kidney bean-like shape.

Included among the different types of intervertebral implants areexpandable implants. Such implants often have an initially contractedconfiguration, such that they have a low profile in thesuperior-inferior direction, in order to ease insertion into theintervertebral space. Such expandable implants can then be expanded inthe superior-inferior direction after implantation, so as to securelyengage and stabilize the vertebrae on both sides of the intervertebralspace. Examples of such expandable intervertebral implants are disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 8,992,620 (“the '620 Patent”), which is herebyincorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth herein.Expandable intervertebral implants having certain similar features tothose in the '620 Patent are disclosed herein, and therefore somesimilar nomenclature is used herein for clarity and consistency.

Although considerable effort has been devoted in the art to optimizationof such intervertebral systems and methods, still further improvementwould be desirable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to expandable interbody implants, as wellas methods of operating the same. Expandable interbody implants inaccordance with aspects of the invention include opposing first andsecond surfaces for engaging respective vertebral bodies on each side ofan intervertebral space. When the implants are expanded from acontracted configuration to an expanded configuration, the first andsecond surfaces are moved apart from one another. A locking system maybe provided for restraining contraction of the implant. The lockingsystem may have a locked configuration, in which the first and secondsurfaces are prevented from moving back towards the contractedconfiguration, and the locking system may have an unlockedconfiguration, in which the first and second surfaces are permitted tomove back towards the contracted configuration. The locking system maybe controlled by rotation of one or more pinions. The pinions may, inturn, be controlled by linear movement of a rack. The rack may beconfigured so as to bias the locking system towards the lockedconfiguration. Other aspects of the invention may include a stop forconstraining the maximum expansion of the implant.

A spinal implant for placement between first and second vertebralbodies, in accordance with an aspect of the invention, includes firstand second members having respective first and second surfaces forengaging the respective vertebral bodies. The first and second surfacesmay be on opposing sides of the implant to engage the respectivevertebral bodies on each side of an intervertebral space. The implantmay include at least one extendable support element and a lockingsystem. The extendable support element may have a contractedconfiguration and at least one extended configuration. The contractedconfiguration may facilitate deployment of the implant between the firstand second vertebral bodies. In the extended configuration, the firstand second members may extend away from one another so that the firstand second surfaces are positioned further apart from one another thanin the contracted configuration. The locking system may comprise atleast one locking element movable between a locked configuration and anunlocked configuration. The locking element may prevent movement of theextendable support element towards the contracted configuration when thelocking element is in the locked configuration, and the locking elementmay permit movement of the extendable support element towards thecontracted configuration when the locking element is in the unlockedconfiguration. The locking element may also include a pinion, such thatmovement of the locking element between the locked and unlockedconfiguration is actuated by rotation of the pinion.

In accordance with other aspects of the invention, the spinal implantmay include a linear rack for rotating the pinion. In accordance withsome such aspects of the invention, the linear rack may move linearlywithin a channel that supplies a fluid for extending the extendablesupport element. In accordance with other such aspects of the invention,the linear rack may be biased so as to move the locking element towardsthe locked configuration. For example, the linear rack may be biased bya linear spring.

In accordance with other aspects of the invention, the locking systemmay further include a second locking element having a second pinion. Inaccordance with such aspects of the invention, the second lockingelement may be movable between a locked configuration and an unlockedconfiguration by rotation of the second pinion. The second lockingelement may prevent movement of a second one of the extendable supportelements towards the contracted configuration when the second lockingelement is in the locked configuration, and the second locking elementmay permit movement of the second extendable support element towards thecontracted configuration when the second locking element is in theunlocked configuration. A linear rack may be engaged with the pinion andthe second pinion for simultaneously rotating the pinion and the secondpinion.

In accordance with yet other aspects of the invention, the extendablesupport element may be configured to be extended by a fluid.

In accordance with other aspects of the invention, the extendablesupport element may include a piston slidably received within acylinder. In accordance with some such aspects of the invention, thelocking element may be received within the cylinder.

In accordance with other aspects of the invention, the locking systemmay include a plurality of inter-engaging locking elements, including anupper lock support member and a lower lock support member, and thelocking element may be one of the upper and lower lock support members.In accordance with such aspects of the invention, the upper lock supportmember may have a multi-stepped support surface, and the lower locksupport system may have a multi-stepped support surface configured tomove into engagement with the multi-stepped support surface of the upperlock support member in the locked configuration. In accordance with somesuch aspects of the invention, the locking element may be the lower locksupport member, which may be rotatable relative to the upper locksupport member between the locked and unlocked configurations inresponse to rotation of the pinion. In accordance with other suchaspects of the invention, the lower lock support member may be rotatablerelative to the upper lock support member about an axle rigidlyconnected to one of the first and second members. In accordance with yetother such aspects of the invention, the extendable support element mayinclude a piston slidably received within a cylinder. In accordance withsuch aspects of the invention, the upper lock support member may bedisposed within the piston and the lower lock support member may berotatably received within the cylinder.

In accordance with other aspects of the invention, one of the first andsecond members may define a slot extending along an extension direction,and the other of the first and second members may include a projectionreceived within the slot. In accordance with such aspects of theinvention, the projection may prevent further extension of the first andsecond members away from one another when the projection abuts an end ofthe slot. In accordance with some such aspects of the invention, theextendable support element may comprise a first extendable supportelement and a second extendable support element, such that theprojection and the slot are positioned between the first and secondextendable support elements.

In accordance with other aspects of the invention, the implant may havea curved, kidney bean-like shape.

In accordance with yet other aspects of the invention, the implant mayhave a straight shape along its central longitudinal axis.

A spinal implant for placement between first and second vertebralbodies, in accordance with another aspect of the invention, includesfirst and second members having respective first and second surfaces forengaging the respective vertebral bodies. The first and second surfacesmay be on opposing sides of the implant to engage the respectivevertebral bodies on each side of an intervertebral space. The implantmay include at least one extendable support element and a lockingsystem. The extendable support element may have a contractedconfiguration and at least one extended configuration. The contractedconfiguration may facilitate deployment of the implant between the firstand second vertebral bodies. In the extended configuration, the firstand second members may extend away from one another along an extensiondirection so that the first and second surfaces are positioned furtherapart from one another than in the contracted configuration. One of thefirst and second members may further define a slot extending along theextension direction, and the other of the first and second members mayinclude a projection received within the slot. The projection desirablyprevents further extension of the first and second members away from oneanother when the projection abuts an end of the slot.

In accordance with another aspect of the above invention, the slot maybe defined within the first member and the projection may be provided onthe second member. In accordance with such aspect of the invention, theprojection may include a pin removably secured within an opening of thesecond member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of an implant in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in acontracted configuration.

FIG. 2B is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in acontracted configuration.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in an extendedconfiguration.

FIG. 3B is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in anextended configuration.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional, plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in acontracted configuration.

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional, plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 inan extended configuration.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional, side elevation view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 in a contracted configuration.

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional, side elevation view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 in an extended configuration.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional, side elevation view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1, showing different features of the implant.

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional, side elevation view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 in a contracted configuration.

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional, side elevation view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 in an extended configuration.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment in accordance with anotherembodiment of the present invention in a contracted configuration.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional, plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 8 in anextended configuration.

FIG. 11 is a rear elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 8 in acontracted configuration.

FIG. 12A is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 8.

FIG. 12B is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 8.

FIG. 13A is a perspective view of an embodiment in accordance withanother embodiment of the present invention in a contractedconfiguration.

FIG. 13B is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 13A in acontracted configuration, taken from a different angle.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional, plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 13A.

FIG. 15A is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 13A in anextended configuration.

FIG. 15B is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 13A in acontracted configuration.

FIG. 16 is a rear elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 13A in acontracted configuration.

FIG. 17A is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 13A.

FIG. 17B is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 13A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-7B illustrate an embodiment of an intervertebral implant 10 inaccordance with the present invention. The implant 10 generally includesa housing 11 and a top end plate 13, and the housing 11 defines aninterior cavity 15 within it. The top end plate 13 may include anopening 6 within it, bounded by connecting members or struts 44extending between the left and right sides of the top end plate 13,which opening 6 communicates with the interior cavity 15. Similarly, thebottom 12 of the housing 11 may include one or more openings (not shown)within it, which openings communicate with the interior cavity 15. Anexample of such an opening 107 in the bottom of the housing isillustrated in the embodiment of the implant 110 illustrated in FIG.12B. Returning to the embodiment of the implant 10 illustrated in FIGS.1-7B, the bottom 12 of the housing 11 has a bottom end surface 8 and thetop end plate 13 has a top end surface 9. The top end plate 13 ismovably connected to the housing 11 on the opposite side of the housing11 from the bottom end surface 8. The top and bottom end surfaces arethe bone engaging surfaces of the implant, for engaging vertebrae aboveand below the implant when placed in the patient. Moreover, the implant10 is expandable by translating the top end plate 13 away from thehousing 11, from the contracted configuration illustrated in FIGS. 2A-Bto the extended configuration illustrated in FIGS. 3A-B.

The implant 10 includes a pair of extendable support elements in theform of pistons 22 attached to the underside of the top end plate 13,which pistons 22 are slidably received within a corresponding pair ofcylinders 16 defined within the housing 11. The sliding of the pistons22 along the cylinders 16 results in the translation of the top endplate 13 so as to expand the implant 10, as discussed above. The pistons22 and cylinders 16 may operate as part of a hydraulic system, in whichthe sliding of the pistons 22 away from the bottoms of the cylinders isdriven by pressurized fluid within the cylinders 16, as discussed belowand in the '620 Patent. Seal members 23, which may be in the form ofo-rings, are positioned so as to seal the sliding interface between thecylinders 16 and the respective pistons 22, in order to prevent thepressurized fluid from escaping through that interface. The seal members23 may be seated within corresponding grooves 45 defined in the outersurfaces of the cylinders 16. In an alternative (not shown), the sealmembers 23 may be mounted on the pistons 22 so that the seal members 23slide with the pistons 22 within the cylinders 16, as disclosed incertain embodiments of the '620 Patent.

The implant 10 also includes a locking system to lock the position ofthe top end plate 13 by preventing the top end plate 13 from translatingback towards the housing 11. That locking system may include multipleinter-engaging locking elements. For example, the implant 10 may includea pair of lower lock supports 20 positioned within the housing 11 and acorresponding pair of upper lock supports 17 (see FIG. 6) connected tothe underside of the top end plate 13. As shown in FIG. 6, the upperlock supports 17 may be positioned within the respective pistons 22, andthey may be fixed with respect to the pistons 22 and the top end plate13. Indeed, each of the upper lock supports 17 may be integrally formedwith either or both of the top end plate 13 and the respective piston22. The upper lock supports 17 have tiered, multi-stepped lower supportsurfaces 18 and vertical risers or alignment faces 46, much like aninverted spiral staircase. The lower lock supports 20, which may bepositioned within the respective pistons 22, similarly have tiered,multi-stepped upper support surfaces 21 and vertical risers or alignmentfaces 47, much like an upright spiral staircase. The support surfaces 18of the upper lock supports 17 engage the support surfaces 21 of thelower lock supports 20, and the alignment faces 46 of the upper locksupports are configured to engage the alignment faces 47 of the lowerlock supports 20. Thus, the stepped support surfaces of both the upperand lower lock supports form locking surfaces of the locking elements.That is, the engagement of the multi-stepped lower support surfaces 18of the upper lock supports 17 with the multi-stepped upper supportsurfaces 21 of the lower lock supports 20 prevents the top end plate 13from translating back towards the housing 11, as discussed in moredetail below and in the '620 Patent.

The tiered, multiple steps of the upper and lower lock supports allowthe implant 10 to be locked at several different expanded heights. Theunderside of the stepped support surfaces 18 of the upper lock support17 may be provided with increasing riser height (alignment faces 46) inthe upward direction to provide smaller incremental expansion near theend of the piston expansion. In addition or alternatively, the steppedsupport surfaces 21 of the lower lock support 20 may be provided withdecreasing riser height in the upward direction for the same reason. Avariety of riser heights of the upper lock support 17 or lower locksupport 20 can be provided. For example, in one exemplary embodiment,the riser heights may vary in multiples of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. Thelowermost stepped support surfaces 18 of the upper lock support 17 andthe uppermost stepped support surfaces 21 of the lower lock support 20may also be provided with various lengths and widths. For example, athigher levels of expansion, fewer support surfaces 18, 21 of therespective upper and lower lock supports 17, 20 will be in engagement,and therefore those support surfaces can have increased widths in orderto provide sufficient supporting material.

Each lower lock support 20 includes an axial receptacle 54 for receivingand rotating around a respective axle 56 mounted within one of thecylinders 16, which axles 56 may be attached to a bottom portion of thehousing 11 (e.g., by being integrally formed with the housing). Bushings58 may be received within respective grooves 60 towards the top ends ofthe axles 56, in order to constrain the axial positions of the lowerlock supports 20 with respect to the axles 56. The lower lock supports20 also each include a pinion 62 having teeth 64, such that rotation ofthe lower lock supports 20 about the axles 56 may be controlled via theapplication of rotational force to the pinion 62.

As shown in the plan, cross-sectional views of the implant 10illustrated in FIGS. 4A-B, the implant housing 11 may include a channel66 formed within it for receiving a rack 68 having teeth 70, such thatthe rack 68 can translated back and forth within the channel 66. Thechannel 66 communicates with the cylinders 16 via respective openings71. The rack 68 is arranged such that its teeth 70 engage with the teeth64 of the pinions 62 of each lower lock support 20 positioned within thecylinders 16 via those openings 71. In that way, the rotational positionof the lower lock supports 20 can be controlled by the translationalposition of the rack 68 within the channel 66. The rack 68 may be biasedin a particular direction by a linear spring 72. In particular, the rack68 may be biased by the spring 72 in such a way that the lower locksupports 20 are biased towards a locking configuration. The spring 72may have a rack engagement end 74 for engaging a shoulder 76 of the rack68, and the spring 72 may have an opposite anchoring end 78 for engaginga transverse face 80 within the channel 66, which face 80 may be definedby a reduction in the diameter of the channel 66.

The housing 11 of the implant 10 comprises an outer wall 31 having adistal end defining a leading nose 32 and a proximal end defining anengagement region 33. The leading nose 32 has inwardly directed sidetapered faces 34 and a top tapered face 35 and bottom tapered face 36.These tapered faces 34, 35, and 36 enable non-traumatic insertion of theimplant 10 past neural elements and between vertebral bodies. The distalend may also include structures that aid in manipulating the implant insitu (e.g., steering elements that facilitate at least partial rotationof the implant). The engagement region 33 includes a delivery toolanchor 37, which allows secure attachment of the implant 10 to adelivery tool (not shown), such as one illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos.8,070,813; 8,998,924; 9,028,550; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/319,460 filed on Apr. 7, 2016 (hereinafter “the '460 Provisional”);or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/480,781 filed on Apr. 6, 2017,the disclosures of all of which are hereby incorporated by referenceherein as if fully set forth herein. The engagement region 33 alsocontains one or more pressure input ports 38, which are used to delivera pressurized fluid to the interiors of cylinders 16 in order to expandthe implant 10. For example, as disclosed in the '460 Provisional, thepressure input port(s) 38 may receive a tube set in sealing engagement,or may sealingly engage a sealing aperture around the edge of thepressure input port 38, so that the pressurized fluid (e.g., saline) maybe provided thereby into the pressure input port 38. The engagementregion 33 may also include one or more engagement features, such as arecess 82, which may be engageable by the delivery tool in order to actas an anti-rotation feature for securing the rotational orientation ofthe implant 10 with respect to the delivery tool anchor 37, as alsodisclosed in the '460 Provisional. The outer wall 31 of the housing 11also provides one or more side openings 40, which provide space for bonyingrowth into the central cavity 15 in the housing 11 and may alsoprovide radiolucent openings for the radiographic imaging of the processof bony ingrowth.

As shown in FIGS. 4A-B, the channel 66 containing the rack 68 may alsoserve as a pressure channel for delivering the pressurized fluid fromthe pressure input port 38 to the interior of cylinders 16 via theopenings 71. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the pressureinput port 38 may be a distinct opening in the housing 11 from thatcommunicating with the channel 66. In such an embodiment, separatepressure channels (not shown) may alternatively or additionally deliverthe pressurized fluid from the pressure input port 38 to the interior ofthe cylinders 16, as shown in certain embodiments of the '620 Patent.

Implant 10 is configured to be implanted between opposing vertebralbodies in the spine to facilitate bony fusion between those vertebralbodies. The implant 10 is shown in its collapsed or contractedconfiguration in FIGS. 2A-B and in one example of its expandedconfiguration in FIGS. 3A-B. In the collapsed state, the implant 10 canbe inserted easily into the intervertebral body space through a minimalincision and with minimal tissue removal. Once in that space, theimplant 10 can be expanded against the two opposing vertebral bodies todistract them and thereby restore height to the intervertebral space.This provides stable opposition of the implant 10 to both vertebralbodies and optimizes the bony fusion process. The fusion process canalso be enhanced by filling the interior cavity 15 with autologousand/or allogeneic bone graft, a bone growth enabling matrix, and/or bonegrowth stimulating substances prior to and/or after insertion into thebody.

As shown in FIG. 1, the implant 10 may include a stop pin 84 (which maybe removable) to constrain the maximum extension of the top end plate13. Specifically, the top end plate 13 may include a distally extendingprojection 86 having a slot 88 defined within it, which projection 86may be received within a space 90 defined within the housing 11. Thatspace may be defined between two walls 92, although only one wall 92 maybe provided in an alternative embodiment. Each wall 92 may include a pinopening 94, such that the stop pin 84 may be received within one or bothopenings 94, and, in traversing the space 90, the stop pin 84 may passthrough the slot 88 in the projection 86 of the top end plate 13. Thus,the stop pin 84 will limit the extension of the top end plate 13 bypreventing the top end plate from translating further once the bottom ofthe slot 88 in the distally extending projection 86 engages the pin 84,as shown in FIGS. 7A-B. That is, in moving from the contractedconfiguration of FIG. 7A to the extended configuration of FIG. 7B, thebottom of the slot 88 comes into contact with the pin 84, which preventsfurther movement of the top end plate 13 away from the housing 11.Additionally, or alternatively, the uppermost support surface of thelower lock support 20 may have a lock support stop (not shown) whichengages the lowermost alignment faces 46 of the upper lock support, inorder to prevent the lower lock support 20 from over rotating as itengages the upper lock support 17, as disclosed in the '620 Patent.

In operation, upon the extension of the top end plate 13 and theattached upper lock supports 17, the lower lock supports 20 rotate aboutthe cylinders 16 due to the force applied by the rack 68 from the linearspring 72. Thus, the alignment faces 47 of the lower lock supports 20are forced against the alignment faces 46 of the upper lock support 17.When the cylinders 16 are pressurized, the pistons 22 raise the top endplate 13 and attached upper lock supports 17, thus lifting the supportsurfaces 18 of the upper lock support 17 off of the support surfaces 21of the lower lock support 20, and also moving the lower alignment faces46 past the upper alignment faces 47. When the alignment faces 46 of theupper lock support 17 have cleared the alignment faces 47 of the lowerlock support 20, the locking actuator (i.e., linear spring 72), which isengaging the rack 68 meshed with the teeth 64 of the pinions 62 of eachlower lock support 20, forces the lower lock supports 20 to rotate. Thesupport surfaces 21 of the rotating lower lock supports 20 then move tothe next lower level of the support surfaces 18 of the raised upper locksupports 17 until the alignment faces 47 of the lower lock supports 20engage the next level of the alignment faces 46 of the upper locksupports 17. The lower lock support 20 and upper lock support 17 thuslock the top end plate 13 at this expanded level. This process repeatsitself at each locking level.

The above-described operation of the locking components is illustratedin FIGS. 4A-B and 5A-B. Specifically, FIG. 4A illustrates theconfiguration of the locking components when the implant 10 is in thecontracted configuration (see FIGS. 2A-B), in which the rack 68 ispositioned at its distal-most position within the channel 66 (i.e., theleft-most position in FIG. 4A), such that the spring 72 is compressed.FIG. 4B illustrates the configuration of the locking components when theimplant 10 is in an extended configuration (see FIGS. 3A-B). As shown inthe figures, in moving to the extended configuration of FIG. 4B, thespring 72 has become less compressed and it has pushed the rack 68towards the right, away from the distal end of the channel 66, which hascaused the pinions 62 of the lower lock supports 20 to rotatecounterclockwise. FIGS. 5A and 5B also illustrate the movement of thelocking components in transitioning between the contracted configurationillustrated in FIG. 5A and the extended configuration illustrated inFIG. 5B. As shown in FIG. 5B, the pistons 22 are advanced to a higherposition along the lower lock supports 20.

The implant 10 may also be unlocked, to allow the top end plate 13 tomove back towards the housing 11. Specifically, the rack 68 can bedepressed by pushing it towards the distal end of the housing 11, forexample with a component (e.g., a relatively rigid wire) inserted intothe open end of the channel 66 (i.e., into the pressure input port 38,in the illustrated embodiment), which will cause the lower lock supports20 to rotate out of engagement with the upper lock supports 17 and allowthe implant 10 to collapse.

Some benefits believed to be provided by the rack-and-pinion design ofthe locking components disclosed herein include the tangentialarrangement of the rack 68 with respect to the pinions 62 (whereby theforce applied to the pinions 62 is always at a constant distance fromthe center of rotation of the pinions 62), which results in a consistentamount of moment being applied to both lower lock supports 20,regardless of the rotational orientation of the lower lock supports. Theuse of a single linear spring 72 to bias the single rack 68, whichdrives the pinions 62 of both lower lock supports 20, also allows forthe moment load to be applied equally to both lower lock supports. Thedesign of the locking components disclosed herein also allows for bothlower lock supports 20 to have identical structures, which simplifiesmanufacturability and assembly of those components. Indeed, overallbenefits of the present design are believed to include a minimal use ofdifferent subcomponents, which results in ease of manufacturing andassembly, as well as improved ease of use and reliability (particularlywith regard to unlocking the implant so as to allow it to collapse fromits extended configuration).

Another embodiment of an intervertebral implant 110 in accordance withthe present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 8-12B. Unless otherwisenoted, the components of the embodiment of FIGS. 8-12B are similar tothose of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-7B. Moreover, referencenumerals in FIGS. 8-12B similar to those in FIGS. 1-7B (i.e., increasedby 100) are used to refer to analogous elements, and therefore suchanalogous elements may not be separately discussed below in connectionwith the embodiment of FIGS. 8-12B. The principal differences betweenthe embodiment of the implant 110 in FIGS. 8-12B and the embodiment ofthe implant 10 in FIGS. 1-7B are discussed below.

The distally extending projection 186 from the top end plate 113, whichis received within a space 190 defined within the housing 111, has adifferent geometry and location in the embodiment of FIGS. 8-12B thanthe projection 86 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7B. For example, ratherthan having a long, thin, generally planar profile that extendslongitudinally along one side of the implant 10 (i.e., the anteriorside), as shown in FIGS. 4A-B, the projection 186 of the implant 110 ismore rectangular, with its longer dimension extending across the widthof the implant 110 in the anterior/posterior direction. As shown in FIG.9, the projection 186 is received within a rectangular space 190 definedwithin a rectangular box 193 having two longer walls 192 that extend inthe anterior/posterior direction across the width of the implant 110.Preferably, the geometry of the projection 186 is such that at least aportion of the projection extends across a longitudinal axis definedbetween the centers of the cylinders 116. In that way, the interactionof the projection 186 within the space 190 of the box 193 provides morestability to the top end plate 113 than the embodiment 10. That is, byhaving the projection 186 more centrally located between the cylinders116 and pistons 122, rather than off to one side (i.e., the anteriorside), the top end plate 113 is less likely to be torqued about thelongitudinal axis of the implant 110 when the stop pin 184 acts on theprojection 186 in limiting the maximum expansion.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the stop pin 184 may have a more cylindricalconfiguration than the stop pin 84 of the implant 10, and the pinopening 194 in the box 193 as well as the slot 188 in the projection 186that receives the stop pin 184, may be shaped accordingly. Additionally,by changing the geometry of the projection 186 and centering it betweenthe pistons 122, the opening in the top end plate 113 may bereconfigured. In particular, as shown in FIG. 12A, the centrally-locatedprojection 186 may result in a central portion 109C of the top endsurface 109 of the top end plate 113. Thus, the opening in the top endplate 113 may be subdivided into multiple openings 106 by the centralportion 109C and multiple struts 144 that connect the central portion109C to the end portions 109E of the top end plate 113. Such struts 144desirably provide stiffness and strength to the top end plate 113, so asto transfer the stopping force from the projection 186 to the rest ofthe top end plate 113.

As shown in FIG. 9, the implant 110 may include an anti-rotation pin 169received within a bore in the housing 111 that communicates with thechannel 166. In that way, the distal end of the anti-rotation pin 169desirably abuts a flat side 173 along the back of the rack 168, so as toconstrain the rotational orientation of the rack 168 about itslongitudinal axis while the rack 168 translates along the channel 166.That is, by positioning the anti-rotation pin 169 into the bore afterthe rack 168 has been assembled into the implant 110, the engagementbetween the anti-rotation pin 169 and the flat side 173 along the backof the rack 168 prevents the rack 168 from rotating about its ownlongitudinal axis, which could cause the teeth 170 of the rack 168 tobecome disengaged from the teeth 164 of the pinions 162.

As shown in FIG. 11, the top end surface 109 and the bottom end surface108 of the implant 110 may be oriented at oblique angles to one another,which angles may be pre-defined to provide a desired lordosis angle tothe vertebrae on either side of the disc space within which the implant110 is positioned. Desirably, multiple implants 110 having differentpre-defined lordosis angles may be made available to the surgeon, sothat the surgeon can select an implant that is appropriate for thesituation.

The outer configuration of the implants 10 and 110 illustrated in FIGS.1-12B have a generally curved, kidney bean-like shape, and thus areconsistent with the shapes of interbody implants used in TLIFtechniques. The design of the locking system described above may also beemployed in an implant 210 intended to be used in a PLIF technique,however, as illustrated in FIGS. 13A-17B. Unless otherwise noted, thecomponents of the embodiment of FIGS. 13A-17B are similar to those ofthe embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8-12B. Moreover, reference numeralsin FIGS. 13A-17B similar to those in FIGS. 8-12B (i.e., increased by100) are used to refer to analogous elements, and therefore suchanalogous elements may not be separately discussed below in connectionwith the embodiment of FIGS. 13A-17B.

One of the principal differences between the embodiment of the implant210 in FIGS. 13A-17B and the embodiment of the implant 110 in FIGS.8-12B is that the PLIF implant 210 has a generally straighter outerconfiguration along its central longitudinal axis than the implant 110illustrated in FIGS. 8-12B. Like the TLIF implant 110 of FIGS. 8-12B,however, the PLIF implant 210 of FIGS. 13B-17B may also have its top endsurface 209 oriented at an oblique angle to the bottom end surface 108in the anterior/posterior direction (i.e., along the longitudinal axisof the implant 210), as shown in FIG. 15B. Moreover, like the TLIFimplant 110, the PLIF implant 210 also be provided in a variety of suchpre-defined lordosis angles. As shown in FIG. 16, the top and bottom endsurfaces 209, 208 may also have a slight oblique angle with respect toone other in the medial/lateral direction (i.e., in the width directionof the implant 210).

As shown in FIG. 15B, the top and bottom tapered faces 235, 236 of theleading nose 232 of the PLIF implant 210 may be comprised of multiplefacets having different angles. For example, the top tapered face 235may include a distal top facet 235A having a steeper angle to thelongitudinal axis of the implant 210 than a proximal top facet 235B.Similarly, the bottom tapered face 236 may include a distal bottom facet236A having a steeper angle to the longitudinal axis than a proximalbottom facet 236B. Such multiple angles within the top and bottomtapered faces 235, 236 of the leading nose 232 desirably improve thenon-traumatic insertability of the implant 210 by reducing the height ofthe implant at its distal-most end, while avoiding having the top andbottom tapered faces 235, 236 cut across the distal cylinder 216 of theimplant.

As shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 8-17B, the top end surfaces and thebottom end surfaces of the implants may be provided with surfacefeatures so as to increase frictional engagement with the vertebraeabove and below the implant, which may also provide additional areas forreceiving bony ingrowth. For example, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 12A-B, thebottom and top end surfaces 108, 109 may be provided with a grid ofpyramidal shaped protrusions 196. As shown in the embodiment of FIGS.13A-B and 17A-B, the bottom and top end surfaces 208, 209 may beprovided with linear ridges 298, which may extend along the widthdirection of the implant 10. Although the protrusions 196 are shown inconnection with the TLIF implant 110 and the ridges 298 are shown inconnection with the PLIF implant 210, each of those surface featurescould alternatively be used on the other type of implant. Moreover,although the above surface features are shown in connection with theembodiments of FIGS. 8-17B, such surface features could also be appliedto the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7B.

Some or all of the components or portions of components of the implants10, 110, 210 disclosed herein may be created by an additivemanufacturing or 3D printing process, e.g., using Laser RapidManufacturing (LRM) technology. Additionally, or alternatively, some ofthe components or portions of components may be manufactured from aporous material, such as a porous metal. Such porous metal may be in theform of a porous, commercially-pure titanium matrix or a porous,titanium alloy (e.g., a Ti6Al4V alloy), such as those manufactured byHowmedica Osteonics Corp. under the trademark TRITANIUM®. Examples ofadditive manufacturing processes for creating some or all of thecomponents of the implants 10, 110, 210 disclosed herein, including somesuch processes for creating porous materials, are disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 7,537,664; 8,147,861; 8,350,186; 8,728,387; 8,992,703; 9,135,374;and 9,180,010, as well as U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2006/0147332, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference hereinas if fully set forth herein. In one example, the top end plate 13, 113,213 and the bottom 12, 112, 212 of the housing 11, 111, 211 may includea porous titanium matrix formed via 3D printing, and then variousfeatures of the implant 10, 110, 210 may be further defined by machiningof those components. For example, the surface features (e.g., pyramidalshaped protrusions 196 and linear ridges 298) may be defined in theporous matrix by machining the bottom end surface 8, 108, 208 and thetop end surface 9, 109, 209. The porous material may also besupplemented by or replaced with solid or denser material in at leastportions of the implant 10, 110, 210, however. For example, the tops ofthe pyramidal shaped protrusions 196 and/or linear ridges 298 may beformed from solid material, while the surrounding base portions thatinterconnect those features are formed from a porous matrix. Solid(non-porous) material may also be used in the portions of the implant10, 110, 210 that enclose the hydraulic fluid. Solid material, which maybe constructed with a smooth surface finish, may also be used along theinterfaces between components that slide with respect to one another.Solid material may also be used in portions of the implant 10, 110, 210where additional structural integrity is needed due to the loads thatwill be applied by the spine. For example, the periphery of the top endplate 13, 113, 213 may be constructed of solid material. In anotherexample, the struts 44, 144, 244 and/or portions of the central portion109C, 209C (e.g., one or more linear segments extending across thecentral portion along the longitudinal direction of the implant, so asto connect the struts) may be constructed of solid material, in order toincrease the strength to the top end plate 13, 113, 213 and transfer theload applied by the projection 86, 186, 286 to the rest of the top endplate 13, 113, 213. In an alternative, portions of the implant 10, 110,210 where additional structural integrity is needed may be constructedof a porous metal material, but the density of that material may beincreased in those portions. Examples of implants having both solid andporous portions, as well as methods of creating the same, are disclosedin U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/245,004, filed on Oct. 22,2015, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0199193, theentire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference hereinas if fully set forth herein.

Although not illustrated in the embodiments of the invention discussedabove, an implant 10, 110, 210 in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention may include one or more bone graft infusion conduitswithin it for directing bone graft material therethrough, as disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 9,028,550 (“the '550 Patent”), the entire disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forthherein. For example, the bone graft infusion conduit may communicatewith one or more bone graft exit ports for dispersing bone graftmaterial into and around the implant. In one example, as disclosed inthe '550 Patent, at least one such bone graft exit port may communicatewith the interior cavity 15, 115, 215, so as to fill the interior cavityof the implant 10, 110, 210 with bone graft material. The bone graftmaterial may be supplied to the bone graft infusion conduit through abone graft input port, which may be located at the engagement region 33,133, 233 of the implant, so that the bone graft material may be suppliedinto the bone graft infusion conduit from the implant delivery tool.

Alternatively, or additionally, an implant 10, 110, 210 in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention may include one or moremanifolds, channels, or passages to permit flowable material to flowinto or through the implant, as disclosed in U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2016/0199190, the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth herein. Forexample, in an embodiment of the implant 10, 110, 210 having porousportions, as discussed above, one or more channels within the implantmay communicate with one or more of such porous portions so as to supplythe flowable material into and/or through those porous portions, asdisclosed in the '697 Application. The flowable material may be suppliedto the internal channels of the implant via an input port, which may belocated at the engagement region 33, 133, 233 of the implant, so thatthe flowable material may be supplied by the implant delivery tool. Oneexample of a flowable material for distribution via such internalchannels is a flowable bone marrow aspirate.

Although the embodiments of the implant 10, 110, 210 disclosed aboveincluded pistons 22, 122, 222 and cylinders 16, 116, 216 driven byhydraulic pressure to expand the implant 10, 110, 210, other forms ofextendable support elements may alternatively be used. For example, asdisclosed in the '620 Patent, the implant 10, 110, 210 may be expandedby bellows, rotating cam lift mechanisms, rotating screw liftmechanisms, or other such devices. Moreover, the extendable supportelements may be separately controllable (e.g., with separate hydraulicpressure channels), so that the extendable support elements can beextended to different vertical positions. In such embodiments, the topend plate 13, 113, 213 may instead take the form of separate platesassociated with each extendable support element, or the top end plate13, 113, 213 may be arranged to pivot with respect to the extendablesupport elements to accommodate their different vertical positions, asdisclosed in the '620 Patent. In other alternative embodiments inaccordance with the present invention, rather than being positionedwithin the pistons and cylinders, the upper and lower lock supports canbe positioned around the pistons and cylinders, as in certainembodiments disclosed in the '620 Patent.

Although the embodiments disclosed herein illustrate implants 10, 110,210 in which a pair of extendable support elements (e.g., two pistonswith two corresponding cylinders) as well as a pair of locking elements(e.g., two upper lock supports 17, 117, 217 with two corresponding lowerlock supports 20, 120, 220) are provided, alternative embodiments mayonly include one of each such component. Still further embodiments mayinclude more than two of each component.

Although the invention herein has been described with reference toparticular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodimentsare merely illustrative of the principles and applications of thepresent invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerousmodifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that otherarrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A spinal implant for placement betweenfirst and second vertebral bodies, comprising: a first member having afirst surface for engaging a first vertebral body; a second memberhaving a second surface for engaging a second vertebral body; at leastone extendable support element having a contracted configuration tofacilitate deployment of the implant between the first and secondvertebral bodies, and the extendable support element having at least oneextended configuration to extend the first and second members away fromone another so that the first and second surfaces are positioned furtherapart from one another than in the contracted configuration; and alocking system comprising at least one locking element movable between alocked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein the lockingelement prevents movement of the extendable support element towards thecontracted configuration when the locking element is in the lockedconfiguration, and the locking element permits movement of theextendable support element towards the contracted configuration when thelocking element is in the unlocked configuration; wherein the lockingelement includes a pinion, such that movement of the locking elementbetween the locked and unlocked configuration is actuated by rotation ofthe pinion; further comprising a linear rack extending along an axis,the linear rack being linearly translatable along the axis to inducerotation of the pinion.
 2. The spinal implant of claim 1, wherein thelinear rack moves linearly within a channel, the channel supplying afluid for extending the extendable support element.
 3. The spinalimplant of claim 1, wherein the linear rack is biased so as to move thelocking element towards the locked configuration.
 4. The spinal elementof claim 3, wherein the linear rack is biased by a linear spring.
 5. Thespinal implant of claim 1, wherein the locking system further comprisesa second locking element having a second pinion, the second lockingelement being movable between a locked configuration and an unlockedconfiguration, wherein the second locking element prevents movement of asecond extendable support element towards the contracted configurationwhen the second locking element is in the locked configuration, and thesecond locking element permits movement of the second extendable supportelement towards the contracted configuration when the second lockingelement is in the unlocked configuration; wherein movement of the secondlocking element between the locked and unlocked configuration isactuated by rotation of the second pinion; and wherein the linear rackis engaged with the pinion and the second pinion for simultaneouslyrotating the pinion and the second pinion.
 6. The spinal element ofclaim 1, wherein the extendable support element is configured to beextended by a fluid.
 7. The spinal element of claim 1, wherein theextendable support element includes a piston slidably received within acylinder.
 8. The spinal element of claim 7, wherein the at least onelocking element is received within the cylinder.
 9. The spinal elementof claim 1, wherein the locking system comprises a plurality ofinter-engaging locking elements, including an upper lock support memberand a lower lock support member; wherein the upper lock support memberhas a multi-stepped support surface, and the lower lock support systemhas a multi-stepped support surface configured to move into engagementwith the multi-stepped support surface of the upper lock support memberin the locked configuration; and wherein the at least one lockingelement is one of the upper and lower lock support members.
 10. Thespinal implant of claim 9, wherein the at least one locking element isthe lower lock support member, the lower lock support member beingrotatable relative to the upper lock support member between the lockedconfiguration and the unlocked configuration in response to rotation ofthe pinion.
 11. The spinal implant of claim 10, wherein the lower locksupport member is rotatable relative to the upper lock support memberabout an axle rigidly connected to one of the first and second members.12. The spinal implant of claim 10, wherein the extendable supportelement includes a piston slidably received within a cylinder; andwherein the upper lock support member is disposed within the piston andthe lower lock support member is rotatably received within the cylinder.13. The spinal implant of claim 1, wherein one of the first and secondmembers defines a slot extending along an extension direction, and thewherein the other of the first and second members includes a projectionreceived within the slot, the projection preventing further extension ofthe first and second members away from one another when the projectionabuts an end of the slot.
 14. The spinal implant of claim 13, whereinthe at least one extendable support element comprises a first extendablesupport element and a second extendable support element, and wherein theprojection and the slot are positioned between the first and secondextendable support elements.
 15. The spinal implant of claim 1, whereinat least one of the first surface and the second surface is constructedof a porous metal.
 16. The spinal implant of claim 1, wherein theimplant has a curved, kidney bean-like shape.
 17. The spinal implant ofclaim 1, wherein the implant has a straight shape along its centrallongitudinal axis.